Contents

The Governor of the State of North Dakota is an elected Constitutional officer, the head of the Executive branch, and the highest state office in North Dakota. The Governor is popularly elected every four years by a plurality and is has no term limit.

Elections

North Dakota elects governors in the Presidential elections, that is, in leap years. For North Dakota, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 are all gubernatorial election years. Legally, the gubernatorial inauguration is always set for the fifteenth of December following an election. Thus, December 15, 2012 and December 15, 2016 are inaugural days.

If two candidates are tied after the general election, a special joint session of the legislature shall cast ballots to choose among the two highest vote getters.

If the Lieutenant Governor is unable to serve, the Secretary of State serves as Acting Governor until the vacancy is filled or until the governor's disability is removed.

Additionally, under Article V, Section 10, and Governor who asks for or accepts any bribe automatically forfeits the office.

Duties

The governor has the power to sign and veto laws, and to call the Legislative Assembly into emergency session. The governor is also chairman of the North Dakota Industrial Commission. The governor is responsible for seeing that the state's laws are upheld.

The governor is commander-in-chief of the state's military forces, except when they are called into the service of the United States. The governor may prescribe the duties of the lieutenant governor. Additionally, the governor is responsible for presenting the state budget to the legislative assembly.

Other duties and privileges of the office include:

Seeing that business of the state is "well administered" (§ 7)

Addressing the legislature periodically on the state of the North Dakota and making recommendations for legislation (§ 7)

Granting reprieves, pardons, and commutations and delegating that power within the confines of the law (§ 7)

Making vacancy appointments to all offices not otherwise provided for, with the consent of the Senate (§ 8)